Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I think quite a bit about the man that I want to be. Not that I am totally dissatisfied with who I am, but I also know that there is great room for improvement. I think it is important for me to have that personal vision so that I know what I am working towards. For accountability and clarification sake I have a short (albeit incomplete) list, in no particular order:

Financially wise

Giving & generous

Even tempered

Prayerful

Loving & faithful husband

Loving father

Disciplined

Healthy habits

Visionary

Confident in God

Compassionate

I'm sure that some people could add things to my list, but it is more important to have your own. It's difficult to go on a journey of discovery and growth if you don't know where you are headed. So many people flounder in life (both physically & spiritually) because they don't have a clear vision for where they are going. I see youth and adults continually make bad decisions that cause pain and anguish because they don't have a concept of who they want to become and more importantly, who God desires them to be.

Spending the time to prayerfully consider the person you want to be might seem discouraging when compared to your present state, but I find that it motivates you down the path that God truly wants you to travel.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I managed to push through all of our recent history maintaining a strength and focus that was certainly beyond me. We dealt with the news of our departure from our Florida church and the fallout by committing our family to God and His ultimate plan for our lives. The process was quick--within a month of the resignation we were here in Georgia and working. There is no doubt that God orchestrated it all to lead us here and I know that the future is bright with Him leading the way.

Believing in that is one thing, but a wounded heart takes a whole lot longer to heal. I can honestly admit that I was at peace throughout the entire turmoil and subsequent process. I never lost my temper nor was I really tempted to do so. Now that we are here and working I do find that I am hurt more than I wanted to admit. Being forcibly ripped out of our lives there and the lives of people that I care about leaves gaping wounds that don't become whole overnight. Constant reminders of what once was cause an ache in my heart and soul. Resentment flares up and then dissipates. The friends that have decided that our previous relationship was only pertinent due to proximity bring about heartfelt disappointment. I liken it to the grief process-denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. In no way does it compare to loss of life, but my heart doesn't know the difference. It grieves for what is lost-a status, a place, a church, and relationships that will never be the same.

I know that He will make me new again-He does it every day. The process itself is painful though and I know that I don't have the strength to do this on my own. I will simply trust in my King and take comfort in how He is already doing His work on my heart.

If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Wow. That is all that I can say (well, not all-that's a short blog otherwise.)

It was so uplifting to see good friends from Florida this weekend-good for my heart & yet heartbreaking at the same time

I do love me a fire on a cool night-can't get enough of them-especially with great people to share it with

God absolutely broke me in the middle of our 9:15 service this morning. I was so overwhelmed by the greatness of who He is & how He shows it to us. I had to stop & simply share my heart before preaching.

There is simple beauty in the Doxology that resonates with my soul

Preaching a sermon titled, "Trashing Tradition" makes people nervous.

Not trashing tradition, but instead focusing on the heart behind them hopefully challenges people to live a real relationship with God.

Your lips are movin', but your heart ain't groovin'.

Praying for the things that people wrote down today that they want to get rid of-sins & the ill-focused traditions that keep us from a true godly relationship

Our God is greater than we can imagine & I am grateful that His grace is enough for me.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ."